Welcome to AAUW of Delaware

Election Day is around the corner and AAUW members have been preparing for months to ensure that women’s voices are heard on Tuesday, November 8. Now is the time to make sure every vote is counted!

Studies show that those voters who make a plan, including how and where to vote, are more likely to follow through and succeed. Before you head to the polls, learn how to protect your vote and what to do if something goes wrong. AAUW is proud to partner with Election Protection to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Have questions about voting or need more information? Experience problems at the polls? Visit http://www.866OurVote.org or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for assistance.

Nathalie Gosset, a senior director at Alfred E. Mann Institute at the University of Southern California alleges that she experienced sexual harassment by her supervisor and faced retaliation and termination from the job after she reported the behavior. She also lost full four-year scholarship awarded to her daughter by the university through its tuition exchange program.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates the Federal law Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion

Other states have followed suit in diminishing this harmful practice. Governor of California, Jerry Brown (D), signed into law a bill saying that salary history can’t be the only reason to point to if a wage discrepancy exists. Legislators in Maryland, Delaware, Utah, and Nebraska also passed equal pay bills in 2016. Red, blue, and purple states are realizing that the pay gap is real and are taking steps to close it.

In 2016, AAUW members were busy at every level of government passing good laws, beating back bad ones, and laying the groundwork for more successes in 2017. Across the country, state legislatures were particularly inclined to work on economics and public finance, health, crime and law enforcement, education, and commerce. Let’s take a look back at the year in statehouses across the country and find out how AAUW public policy priorities fared.

In recognition of November as Native American Heritage Month, there will be a discussion on a series of essays written by Sarah Deer, an advocate for cultural and legal reforms. She has worked to protect Native women from endemic sexual violence and abuse and played a crucial role in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013.

Washington D.C remains a hub for cultural enrichment and many sites recognize the hardships and achievements of women throughout history. As you plan to attend the AAUW National Convention in D.C. in in June 2017, consider allotting time to visit and be inspired by the extraordinary efforts of the women immortalized in these sites.

iAdelante Book Discussions

We’ve had a great start to the 2016-2017 ¡Adelante! reading list with more than 50 registrants for the National Hispanic Heritage Month discussion with authors of The Ones I Bring with Me. Four more online book discussions are scheduled before the year. Enjoy the books and join us for the discussions.

Join us for an online discussion with Kimberly Elkins, author of What is Visible: A Novel, based on the true story of the first blind and deaf person to learn language. And no, we’re not talking about Helen Keller.

Violence against Native American women is a historical and political problem bounded by oppression and colonial violence. Join author Sarah Deer as she provides a clear historical overview of rape and sex trafficking in North America, paying particular attention to the gendered legacy of colonialism of tribal nations.

Every two years, AAUW hosts the national convention where women leaders from across the nation gather together to learn new skills, gain insight and inspiration, and connect with other women leaders. Registration opens October 1, 2016.

To find out, read The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap Fall 2016 edition. This addresses the gender pay gap issues in the United States for all ages, races, and education levels and also proposes solutions on what you can do to close it.

Get-Out-the-vote (GOTV) is ramping up with less than three months to the election. Register for It’s my Vote to learn how to register, educate, and turn out voters at the polls and to help make a difference this Election Day!

Use the AAUW’s handy guides to craft successful social media campaigns that get women registered to vote and ready for the polls in November!
With a well-crafted tweet or Facebook post, you can raise awareness about AAUW issues and spotlight your get-out-the-vote efforts.

The Paycheck Fairness Act will help secure equal pay for equal work for all Americans. But until that happens, each state will continue operating under antiquated regulations and piecemeal state and local laws to combat unequal pay. While some states do have stronger laws than other states, AAUW members will keep working to make the whole country a better place for women to live and work.

Do you know any person, project, organization or who have made remarkable contributions to equality for women and girls. You can also nominate yourself or an organization for which you serve as an officer.

Many AAUW branches and states already have or are considering directors and officers liability insurance, which protects your leaders and organization from loss due to legal claims alleging errors, omissions, negligence, breach of duty, and other “wrongful acts.” If your organization has not yet purchased this protection, we suggest considering it.

Help the leaders of your branch and others in your state build the skills they need to increase their AAUW impact. Use this step-by-step guide to help you reach out to and plan leadership training for your local branches.

Delaware Governor Jack Markell (D) signed a new equal pay bill (H.B. 314) into law last week, which prohibits employers from banning discussions of salary among employees.

The Delaware General Assembly and AAUW of Delaware members were present at the bill signing. They were joined by Lilly Ledbetter to celebrate the bill, which was passed on the last day of the legislative session.

Throughout the legislative process on H.B. 314, Action Network supporters in Delaware sent messages to their legislators urging them to pass this critical measure.

Our annual Supreme Court Wrap-Up call will be on Tuesday, July 19. Reproductive freedom, access to health care, and affirmative action were on all the court’s schedule. Registration is free to all members, but members must RSVP. We’ll discuss the Supreme Court’s term and analyze decisions that will impact the rights of women and girls across the country.

The AAUW Public Policy Committee (APPC), chaired this year by Karen Francis of Missouri, is accepting comments on the AAUW Public Policy Program until July 25. Your feedback as a member is critical to a successful revision of the PPP.

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in U.S. schools and ensures all students have access to education. Unfortunately, its work is not done. Get the facts about Title IX, know your rights, and find your local K-12 Title IX coordinator.

AAUW marked the 44th anniversary of Title IX on June 23 by hosting our annual Title IX Cupcakes and Champagne celebration on Capitol Hill to honor Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) as the 2016 Title IX Champion. We recognized Sen. Reid for his dedication to improving educational opportunities for women and girls.